Wolf home-range size, pack territory size and activity were studied using GPS telemetry to track a total of nine wolves belonging to two neighbouring packs: the Mala Kapela pack and the Plješevica pack. The territories of the two monitored packs encompassed approximately 900 km² and included a substantial area around Plitvice Lakes National Park, extending to Mount Plješevica in the south-east and Mala Kapela in the north-west. Plitvice Lakes National Park is important as a breeding area for wolves and as a winter refuge. Snow tracking showed that a third pack from the Ličko Sredogorje area enters Plitvice Lakes National Park in winter and uses the western part of the Park. The average winter pack size across the three neighbouring packs was 5.6 wolves, while the average wolf density was 0.53 wolves per 100 km².

The wolves were most active at dawn and dusk. The passage of irregular migrants between 2018 and 2020 affected the wolves’ activity at dusk and during the night. This highlights the importance of minimising human disturbance, particularly in the most sensitive areas used by wolves to rear their young. Areas important for wolf reproduction were identified and mapped so that they could be incorporated into the future management of the National Park.

Objava Research into the movements, space use and activity of wolves in the Plitvice Lakes National Park area (grey wolf – Canis lupus) pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

Because no lynx research or monitoring had previously been carried out in Plitvice Lakes National Park, the study was launched to improve the management of this Natura 2000 target species. Its aim was to obtain baseline information on lynx movements, individual home-range size, population density, reproduction, activity and habitat use.

Prior to this study, no lynx from Plitvice Lakes National Park (PLNP) or this part of central Lika had been monitored. The project therefore aimed to extend lynx research to parts of their habitat that had not previously been studied systematically. The new findings have added to the overall body of knowledge about the lynx and will be particularly valuable for managing this strictly protected species in Croatia.

Telemetry, combined with camera traps and snow tracking, was selected as the most effective method of collecting data and gaining insight into lynx ecology. The study involved capturing live lynx, fitting them with GPS collars and monitoring them.

During the study, seven lynx were captured and fitted with GPS collars. Their home ranges averaged 200 km² and overlapped spatially, although the animals did not use the overlapping areas at the same time. Analysis of the camera-trap footage confirmed that nine lynx used the Plitvice Lakes National Park area. They were most active at dawn and dusk.

A substantial proportion of PLNP was found to fall within the highest lynx habitat-suitability classes. Based solely on natural habitat components, the entire Park provides prime lynx habitat, except for areas around settlements, alongside major roads and in the large open fields near Homoljac, Brezovac and Babin Potok.

Objava Research into the movements, space use and activity of lynx in Plitvice Lakes National Park (Eurasian lynx – Lynx lynx) pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

The purpose of the survey was to identify the species and spatial distribution of bryophytes in forest habitats and to develop a Park-wide bryophyte monitoring protocol, with particular emphasis on the Natura 2000 target species. It also aimed to provide recommendations for adapting management practices in order to maintain bryophyte species in a favourable conservation status.

The fieldwork was carried out from 2020 to 2023, focusing on the Natura 2000 target species. These species occur in natural forests or forests managed at low intensity, with a well-preserved microclimate and no exposure to atmospheric pollution. Their presence is therefore an indicator of the naturalness and undisturbed condition of forest habitats. The presence of Buxbaumia viridis indicates the naturalness of forest habitats through its association with deadwood, whereas Dicranum viride indicates naturalness through forest-habitat continuity and the absence of exposure to atmospheric pollutants.

The survey recorded 132 bryophyte species in the Park’s forests: 22 liverworts and 110 mosses. It also showed that the bryophyte flora varies between forest communities. Beech–fir and beech forests are the main centres of diversity, while thermophilous and moist forest communities have lower bryophyte diversity because of their more extreme ecological conditions.

Objava Survey and inventory of bryophytes in forest habitats in Plitvice Lakes National Park pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".